Raging BC Wildfire - Okanagan - Forces 5000 to Flee

by albertacowpoke | July 19, 2009 at 02:47 am

3130 views | 48 Recommendations | 13 comments

Fire Crews were battling a quick spreading forest fire West of Kelowna, British Columbia. Kelowna is in the Okanagan region, a region rich of tourism and recreational activity.

The fire, which covered about 2 square kilometers, forced about 5000 people to flee their homes. Three homes have already been destroyed and 12 others are considered under serious threat in the Glenrosa area.

According to fire officials another 1500 homes have been evacuated in the area.

The evacuation zone includes Upper and Lower Glenrosa, and the Seclusion Bay, Gellatly Bay, Goat's Peak and Horizons areas.

Police were also going door to door in Gellatly Bay, urging residents to leave.

CBC Newsworld reports at 4 a.m PDT that 9 structures have been destroyed at least three of them home. B.C. forestry has engaged 6 helicopters and Kelowna Fire Department is out in full force. Every spare hotel room is booked. More than 10,000 people have been forced to flee now.

Canadian MP from that area, Stockwell Day, has seen the devastattion first hand.

Power has been cut off and due to smoke cell phone coverage is spotty. So far no injuries have been reported.

There are two separate blazes , Glenrosa, and one in Rose Valley. Rose Valley started at 9:30. Another fire of approx 3 hectars is at Bowl Lake.

Read some personal accounts from Local Kelowna Residents

Updated 5:48pm 19 Jul: It would be prudent for residents in the following areas to prepare to leave with very short notice. Those affected areas are: South of Bear Creek and north of the Rose Valley reservoir And the following addresses on Bear Creek, Dougmac, Petterson and Rose Valley Roads:

Latest Update from Kelowna Daily Courier

For Updates go to this story Raging BC Wildfire Contained 40%

About 5,000 residents were forced to flee their homes Saturday as fire crews battled a quick-spreading forest fire covering two square kilometres of West Kelowna, in B.C.'s Okanagan region.

Three homes have been destroyed and 12 others were deemed under serious threat in the Glenrosa area. A further 1,500 homes near the blaze have been evacuated, fire officials said.

B.C.'s Okanagan region has been plagued by forest fires in the past. (CBC)

The evacuation zone includes Upper and Lower Glenrosa, and the Seclusion Bay, Gellatly Bay, Goat's Peak and Horizons areas.

Police were going door to door in Gellatly Bay to urge residents to leave.

The large Gorman Brothers sawmill was also threatened.

B.C. Forestry sent six helicopters, eight aerial water bombers, 45 firefighters and two water trucks to assist the Kelowna and Peachland fire departments in battling the blaze.

Pushed by powerful wind gusts and arid conditions, a massive wildfire forced 5,000 people to flee their homes Saturday near Kelowna, B.C.

The flames first broke out around 3:00 p.m. local time and later destroyed three homes. At least 12 more homes were threatened by the flames Saturday night, according to the BC Forest Service.

The flames were also burning dangerously close to the Gorman Brothers sawmill, which has huge stacks of stored lumber on site.

4 See all footage | View Slideshow

Share: email story | add to any | | facebook | stumbleupon

recommend This comment thread is now closed

mudricky

at 04:02 on July 19th, 2009

Bush fires are one thing we don't have to worry about over here. Lucky.

albertacowpoke

at 04:45 on July 19th, 2009

It.s always something to think about here in the spring and dry summers.

sara star

at 04:53 on July 19th, 2009

I think of these stories whenever people complain about rain. The wind looks like it is blowing towards the water at least.

albertacowpoke

at 04:58 on July 19th, 2009

Well we had some thunderstorms here last night and got a little rain. I sure hope we get even more. Some get too much rain, they can send it here and to Kelowna.

Barbara McPherson

at 10:16 on July 19th, 2009

This is the second big fire that residents of Kelowna have had. The one in 2003 destroyed a whole subdivision. Kelowna has expanded rapidly into the forested areas and what we are seeing are interface fires. People ignore the recommendations to minimize fire hazards. In the picture posted, you can see a roofline. The roof is cedar shakes. Cedar makes the best kindling. You can also see trees up against the houses. Lots of fuel there. It doesn't look like they are going to get a break in the weather. It's promised to continue hot.

albertacowpoke

at 10:20 on July 19th, 2009

Thanks for this Barbara.

sara star

at 10:29 on July 19th, 2009

Westbank municipal fire crews were on scene. Fire departments in Peachland and Kelowna had been called in as well.

Boaters were being asked to stay away from Gellatly Bay to allow for safe water bomber activity. Jones encouraged locals to avoid the area to keep the roads clear.

No injuries have been reported.

Evacuees were directed to an emergency centre at Royal LePage Place at 2760 Cameron Rd. in the Mt. Boucherie Community Complex. Mt. Boucherie Senior Secondary at 2751 Cameron Rd. was also opened to shelter evacuees.

Emergency social services was requesting mattresses and bedding be donated to the school. People trained in ESS are asked to volunteer at Royal LePage Place.

The Canadian Disaster Animal Rescue Team set up a centre in the Mt. Boucherie area for pets.

Some residents believed the fire may have started near Gorman Bros. Lumber. The emergency operations centre confirmed Gorman’s mill was being threatened and fire crews were wetting the property.

Coincidentally, the sawmill’s emergency-response team had put out a small fire on their property on Friday that started in a hog-fuel pile.

albertacowpoke

at 10:34 on July 19th, 2009

Thanks for this Sara:).

CTV reports that as many as 17,000 people and 6500 homes have been evacuated. There are also two bulldozers being deployed from private contractors today.

The Mayor of Kelowna, Doug Findlater, says they have access to enough facilities to accommodate this people. He stated that the experience from the 2003 fires have given them an advantage to handle this emergency.

sara star

at 12:33 on July 19th, 2009

Emergency officials were dealing with the situation using plans that were developed after the Kelowna area was struck by massive wildfires that destroyed more than 240 homes in 2003.

Source: ca.news.yahoo.com

albertacowpoke

at 12:35 on July 19th, 2009

Thanks for this Sara:)

Tricia Jarnell (not verified)

at 12:52 on July 19th, 2009

I live in Vernon and couldnt believe all the smoke that we were seeing here! there was a major fire in Kelowna(45 mins from me) and 1 in Kamloops(other side of me) and then a small one that stareted in Armstrong(our other route out of here!)
I remember being called out to help with the 2003 fire and that was a hard one!! but this one was said to be expeted to be bigger then the 2003 one!!! Well kids! I think you are going to grandma's house!!!